Profile, timetables, towards a double for Jonathan Milan? The 9th stage between Chinon and Châteauroux in questions

Before the first mountain stages, the peloton has the right to a second consecutive day of dish with a course conducive to an arrival at the sprint on Sunday.

A new calm day promises to be on the Tour de France. In the aftermath of Jonathan Milan's victory in Laval, sprinters should have a new opportunity to illustrate on Sunday, July 13. If the favorites will logically stay warm in the peloton, the 9th stage between Chinon and Châteauroux will be one of the last opportunities to score big points in the classification of the green jersey, before a massive central-Pyrénées chain.

What is the profile?

No difficulty is listed despite 174.1 kilometers planned between Indre-et-Loire, Vienne and Indre, which promises a truce between the cadors in the plain. After the departure of Chinon, an unprecedented city-stage on the big loop, the runners will take the direction of Sérigny, where an intermediate sprint will be tried at the start of the day. A form of rehearsal before a final with Certainly some changes of direction, but above all a great explanation expected in Châteauroux at the end of a long straight line.

What favorites?

During the last three arrivals in the city CAsteloussine, it was a certain Mark Cavendish who won there for his very first victory on the Tour in 2008, then ahead of André Greipel in 2011 and Jasper Philipsen ten years later. Freshly retired, the British sprinter-detecting the record of stage victories on the Tour-will therefore have a successor to Châteauroux, and it could well be Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), already winner on Saturday in Laval.

Among the other arrows still engaged, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), The Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and the Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) seem to be able to mingle with the struggle, just like the Belgian Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike). One thing is certain, it will be an important step in the race in points classification: the suitors for the green jersey will have to get ahead before the unmissable Tadej Pogacar continues in spite of himself his harvest in the high mountains.

What hours?

Start of the retransmission: 12:55 pm on France 3 and france.tv

Fictive departure: 1:10 p.m.

Real departure: 1:25 p.m.

Arrival average forecast: 17h17